If you're a lover of classic tandoori chicken, a flavorful favorite when it comes to Indian food, then these crispy baked chicken wings tandoori style, are exactly what your tastebuds are looking for—done lickity split.
Chicken Wings Get a Tandoori Style Makeover
If I'm headed out to eat, chances are that I'm on my way to one of my beloved Indian restaurants for one of my favorite meals: tandoori chicken.
Marinated in warming and aromatic spices like coriander, garam masala, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, garlic, lemon juice and thick, creamy yogurt; the chicken is then baked off in a high temperature clay oven called a “tandoor”, where it takes on a beautiful (and colorful) char, with a scrumptiously crisp exterior.
And oh, how tasty it is!
But since most of us don't have a tandoor oven in our homes, how can we get all of those warming flavors, that kick of mild spiciness, that crisp outer texture and juicy center, all finished in a flash?
Bake those chicken wings, with all the same tandoori spices!
How to Bake Chicken Wings to Flavorful, Crispy Perfection
First, proper marination is a must!
Meaty drumettes are marinated in all those delectable ingredients—the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and all the wonderful spices.
Then, once they've absorbed all that tasty flavor, they're baked at a nice high temperature—450°—to help create that char and crispness.
The result is as close as you can get to the flavor of authentic tandoori chicken, in chicken wing form.
And because they're baked, they're lighter and healthier as well.
How Long to Bake Chicken Wings
Baked chicken wings are done in a snap—all hot, fresh, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Let's just say once you place these into your oven, you'll be licking your fingers from these spicy little morsels in less than half an hour—about 25 minutes!
So the next time you're craving crisp, delicious chicken wings with a totally unique twist, reach for this simple chicken wing recipe and turn your own oven into a “tandoor” oven with these crispy baked chicken wings.
Tips & Tidbits
• Marinate for bold flavor: While you can certainly marinate for a short period of time (even 20 minutes) and still have great flavor, the key to the intense and deep flavor with these is allowing time for the wings to marinate for at least two hours, or overnight, which is even better.
• Drumettes for meatiness: I like to use the portion of the wing that is the drumette for this recipe, as these contain the most meat; but you can use the end wings, as well, or a combo of both.
• Flip on the broiler at the end for extra char: I like to turn my broiler on high for the last 2-3 minutes of baking to create a bit of extra char and crispness on the wings. Just take care not to walk away, or you'll end up burning your wings—not tasty.
Feast your eyes on these, or just jump to the recipe:
Recipe
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings Tandoori Style
by Ingrid Beer
Yield: Serves 2-4
Prep Time: 2 hours (includes marination)
Cook time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
• 1 – 1 ½ pounds chicken drumettes and/or wings
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons paprika (not hot)
• 1 teaspoon, heaping, garam masala
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• Pinch or two cayenne pepper
• ½ cup full-fat, plain, Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• Dash or two (or more!!) Sriracha, depending on your desired level of spiciness
• Cilantro leaves, for garnish
• Cool Minted Yogurt Dipping Sauce (recipe below)
Preparation:
-To a large bowl, add the chicken drumettes/wings, and pat them dry with a paper towel.
-Add to them ½ teaspoon of the salt, ¼ teaspoon of the black pepper, the paprika, garam masala, turmeric, coriander, cumin, and cayenne, and using your hands, mix/rub the spices into the chicken; set aside for a moment.
-In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and sriracha, and mix to blend; pour this mixture over the chicken, rubbing it into the chicken, and allow it to marinate for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
-When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 450°; line a baking sheet with foil, and place a wire rack over the baking sheet.
-Remove the chicken from the yogurt marinade, and allow the excess to drip off; place the wings onto the wire rack, and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, until slightly charred and crisp.
-Serve garnished with a some cilantro leaves, and the Cool Minted Yogurt Dipping Sauce on the side.
Cool Minted Yogurt Dipping Sauce Ingredients:
• 1 cup full-fat, plain, Greek yogurt
• 2 small cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon, heaping, chopped fresh mint
• Salt
Preparation:
-Add all of the ingredients up to and including the mint to a small bowl, and add in a couple of good pinches or salt (however much you desire for flavor); mix with a fork, and use immediately, or keep covered and in the fridge until ready to use.
* Interested in another chicken wing recipe? Here ya go! "Spicy Orange Chicken Wings” or “Coca-Cola Hot Wings, Korean BBQ Style”
Camille
Delicious, thank you for the recipe 🙂 I love your blog and I have followed you with Bloglovin. If you ever get a chance to check out my blog I would be delighted, thanks!
Camille xo
The Cozy Apron
I appreciate that, Camille! 🙂
Maya Yunos
Your chicken wings looks spectacular! Can't wait to give it a try. 🙂
The Cozy Apron
Thank you, Maya!
Wizard
I just tried you're recipe and added a few small additions from my indian grandmothers recipe book. Was amazing!!!!
The Cozy Apron
Hey Wizard, so glad you liked the recipe! And what a really neat thing that you have there in your grandmother's recipe book—that's priceless!
Maureen
This chicken really is delicious!! Thank you for sharing.
The Cozy Apron
Thanks so much, Maureen! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Hasnain
Amazing finger licking good. Thank you for sharing.
The Cozy Apron
Hasnain, thanks so much for that! And it was my pleasure—so happy you enjoyed the recipe.
Tuhina Dayal
How would you recommend re-heating these?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Tuhina, if you have a toaster oven, that is the best way! We have a simple little one, and I just "bake" at about 400-450° for a few minutes to re-heat & re-crisp. 🙂
Tuhina Dayal
Thank you! I am planning on making them the night before for a lunch potluck at work - and didn't know if I'd be able to easily re-heat them. We have a toaster oven at work, so this should work great.
Melinda
Well, these tasted really good, but only after I gave them about another 20 minutes in the oven. After 25 minutes they were still very pink inside. What could I have done wrong? My oven temperature has been checked and it's fine.
The Cozy Apron
Hi Melinda, that's a tough one; did you bake them at 450? That's an extremely high oven temp, & I have, personally, never had to go longer than the 25 minutes. Your time would've totaled 45 minutes according to what you mentioned, and it seems like the wings would've been quite burned by that time, at that temp...
Mark B
Hi. Made 30 of these for a New Years Eve party, just multipled the amounts by 4. They went down really well. They few that were left ended up stripped and on Pizza the next day.
Thanks
The Cozy Apron
Hey Mark, that’s great to read! I’m so happy these wings were a part of your spread, and we’re enjoyed. (Tasty & creative way to use up the extras, too! ) Thank you for commenting.
Lakshmi
Made these today as a Superbowl game day snack and this was loved by both the hubby and the daughter. I omitted the Sriracha and used regular lowfat yogurt. Hubby being a big chicken wings fan, praise coming for these tandoori wings means a lot! Thank you for an amazing and easy recipe. I can see myself coming back here again!
The Cozy Apron
Lakshmi, I'm so happy to read you all enjoyed these zesty wings! And when both hubby and daughter are happy, I know momma's happy, too. 🙂 Thank you for taking a moment to share your experience with me!
Chetan Pandya
Very good but simple recipe for spicy chicken wings. Very useful for persons like me who like to experiment cooking different dishes. Thank you.
The Cozy Apron
Hi Chetan, thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed the wings!
Jim 27858
I also found the cooking time needed to be increased over the recipe. 450 F for 45 minutes + I cooked elevated on a baking rack between two stones that had been pre-heated at 450 for 45 minutes prior. The wings remained very moist. Very nice recipe. Will do this again!
The Cozy Apron
Hi Jim, thanks for sharing your experience! So glad you enjoyed the wings!
Edm
Hi. Is rubbing the seasoning on the chicken directly a key step or could you mix all the spices with the yoghurt? Planning on trying this this weekend!
The Cozy Apron
Hi there, you certainly can just mix it all together; but the reason why I personally like that extra step of rubbing the seasoning in is because of the direct contact with the meat. It tends to stick to the chicken skin a bit more when added directing onto it, no barrier, and adds a bit more flavor.
Hope you enjoy these tasty wings—happy cooking to you!